Socket



'ug. 11, 1931. J, JUERGNS SOCKET Flled Deo' 26' 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1,

@Mrz 07@ Aug. 1'1, 1931. .l J. JUERGENS SOCKET Filed Dec 26 1925 2vSheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 11, 1931 UNITED STATS asians PATems ,Meer

JOHN JUERGENS, F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNGR, BY IJESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TG

BENJAMIN ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, .A COR-PORATION OF ILLINOIS socxnr Application filed December 26, 1925. SerialNo. 77,795.

The .present invention relates to devices, usually calledsockets, forholding a unit used extensively'in radio practice and in otherapplications and which is known as a the formv of an evacuated bulbcontaining such electrode elements as lament, plate and grid. Theseelectrodes usually have four terminals in the form of pins extending inparallel arrangement and in spaced-apart relation from the bottom of thebase of the tube. The-present mounting is illustrated as designed for adevicehaving four such' terminals. In any mountin for such an instrumentmeans are require for makingcontact with these or such terminalsrespectively to complete circuits including themespective electrodeelements of the tube.

Such instruments are of delicate construction and susceptible of injurythrougheven a moderate amount of shock or vibration. It has beendemonstrated too thatv vibration communicated tothe electrode elementsof the instrument causes modifications in its operation inimical to thedesired results of an even and true performance under given electricalconditions in the circuit.

The chief objects of the present invention are to provide a mounting orsocket for such tubes according to which the instrument is supportedresiliently or spring-cushioned in such a way as .effectively tointercept shocks and vibrations arising extraneously to the instrumentitself, .with special 'reference to those liner vibrationsmilitatinglagainst the functional results of the tube in service; to provide sucha shock-absorbing mounting or socket which may, according to particularspring members employed, provide an ex ceedingly delicate resilientconnectionbetween the supporting unit and the instrument, or have suchdegrees of resiliency as a particular use may suggest; to provide such amounting or socket in a form highly convenient for the ready insertionand removal of the tube; one also-which ma be manufactured cheaplyandthus ma e available to the user at a reasonable price; and, further,one which is .of neat and attractive fom, durable, and notlkely to getout of or er.

Other objects and advantages will appear hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated two embodiments of thisinvention, of which the preferred form is illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5inclusive, Figure 1 being atop plan of the device, Fig. 2 a bottom plan,Fig. 3 an elevation, Fig. 4 a medial vertical section, and Fig. 5 anenlarged perspective of one of the four spring conductors supporting theshell; Figs. 6 to 10 inclusive are corresponding views respectively ofthe other embodi ment mentioned, save that Fig. 7".,is a sectional viewon the line 7-7 of Fig. 8.

.Referring to Figs. l to 5 the construction comprises a wiring base 10of insulating material, four wiring terminals 11 in the form of bindingposts mounted on the base at points defining substantially the cornersof a rectangle, an insulating cylindrical tube-holding shell l2, andfour radially-extendin shellsupporting springs and contact mem ers 13,

Fig. 5. Each of the springs 13 is shown as being held upon an under.surface of the base 10 by the heads of screws 15 passing upward throughthe base and secured by a clamping nut 16 and a bindin nut 17, while theknurled linger nut 18 provi es readily operable means for connecting aconductor electrically through'the binding post to the springs 13respectively. p

Each of the .springs 13is formed of thin and springy sheet metal andextends radially inward from the connection to the base at the bolt head15, passes normally upward on rounded lines through a notch or recess 19large enough laterally toepermit the spring to movelexibly and free ofthe base under normal conditions of use, and then turns radially outwardand upward'and then again radially inward to provide a compound bend orsubstantially S-shaped form of structure, with` a free end portion 13aextending substantially parallel with the general-planes of the base orperpendicular to the axis of the the shell. As shown in Figs. 4 and 5the shell-supporting part of the spring is sub stantially U-sha ed andcomprises an upper and a lower lea portion lying substantially in planestransverse of the axis of the shell. This results in a compactconstruction and provides a symmetrical yielding support for the shell.The shell rests upon the upper portion 13a of each of these springs andis secured thereto by headed pins 21 whereby the shell is permanentlymaintained in its desired relationship to the springs.

It will be noted that the base 10 has a cylindrical upstandingflange-like part 10a spaced from the shell 12, which part has the effectof limiting lateral movements of the shell to those well within such as.might be likely to deform the springs, and at the same time it protectsthe shell against shocks incident to wiring operations including thosearising from the manipulation of the finger nut 18 by hand or by aninstrument and :trom such shocks as might otherwise occur through otheroperations about the device as a whole.

From Figs. 2 and 4: it will be observed that the lower surface of thebase 10 is provided with four radially-directed recesses 22 within whichthe lower extensons of the springs 13 are respectively positioned, thusproviding lateral stops or abutments for the springs when turning ortwisting strains are applied to the shell. These recesses 22 are ofsufiicient width to permit the springs to play freely therein undernormal conditions of use, the springs being thus free to4 provide theirresilient shell-supporting and shock-absorbing functions under all such'normal conditions.

This provision of the recesses 19 and 22, which effectively shortens thefree portions of the springs when twisting stra-ins are applied to theshell, isl of utility in connection with such adaptations as include abayonet slot 23 near the upper margin of the shell adapted to receive alaterally-extending pin on the base of the tube, in theuse of whichadaptation the tube is first directed longitudinally into the shell andthenl given a turn on its axis to make the interlocking engagementdesired for holding it firmly yet ,readily removably in the shell, andwhen the tube is removed the reverse turning movement likewise has sometwisting effect upon the shell, at least as these operations are likelyto be performed b careless or indilerent persons. This provision istherefore advantageous in preserving thenorm'al shape of the springsunder suc conditions.

The tube holding shell 12 thus serves as a means for positioning thetube to cause its terminals to engage the contact portions of` themembers 13 properly, and also'as a mea-ns for carrying the terminalengaging contacts and insulating them with respect to ,ea-ch other. Itwill be noted that the spring conductor members 13 are secured to thelwiring base 10 at oints spaced circumferentially about the axis of thetube in the holder 12, and laterally beyond the periphery ofthe tubeholder, and lying in a general plane transverse to the axis of the shellwhereby these spring conductor members may be readily secured to thebase 10. This construction also facilitates the connection of theconductor springs with the readily accessible wiring terminals 1l. Thesespring conductor members 13 act as spring beams which substantially andyieldingly resist both lateral and axial movement of the tube holdingshell.

The ordinary four-terminal electronic tube and the use of sockets havingspring terminals therefor are so well known that from the abovedescription and the arrangement of parts illustrated herein it is clearthat when the tube is normallyinserted into the shell the four terminalsof the tube will rest upon the four contacts 13a respectively, makingthe desired electrical connection therewith, which connection -ismaintained and improved through the fact that when the interlockingengagement of the tube through the bayonet slot construction is had thecontact members 13a are depressed. slightly and put underk springtension.

The base 10 may be provided with a flanged extension 10b providing acontinuous plane support and maintaining the conductors well spaced fromthe base-board or other object to which the unit may be secured. Severalscrew holes as 24, Fig. 1, may be formed in the base for holding it u ona base-board or the like.

Referring to igs. 6 to 10 inclusive the wir- .ing base 30 has anupstanding cylindrical and tubular art 30a in an arrangement in which ashelglike surface 32 extending outwardly fromv the cylinder 30a isformed. Four binding posts 33 include the bolts 34 having their heads inrecesses in the bottom of the base, a clamping nut 35, a binding nut 36,and a terminal binding nut 37 for securing a lead wire in electricalcommunication withthe binding post as a Whole. As in the other figuresthese terminal posts or connections are arranged ninety degrees apartand at points defining. substantially the corners -of a-rectangularpolygon. The shell 38 iS similarly carried resiliently by fourradiallydirected spring members 39, the outer ends of which are securedto the base' by and in electrical communication. with the binding stthrough the clamping nut 3,5 on the sur ace 32, from which point ofconnection the springs respectively extend inward through Iopenings 40in the base member. f

The base part 30 is recessed, as well shown Y in-Fig. 9, to provideample space for 'the springs 39. These springs are similarly of thin andflexible sheet metal and are formed first, as stated, to extend inwardlyfrom the i binding posts, then downwardly and inwardly on curved linesforming a festoon-like part 39a, thence outwardly and upwardly to form asubstantially straight part 395, thence directly upward and back uponitself providing a double-thickness part 39C, and thence directly inwardforming the contact member or part 39d. Each part 39c`is secured to theshell 38 by means of a rivet 40 passing through a hole 41, Fig. 10, inthe part 390, the rivet and the part 390 being insulated from the shell38 by a bushing type of insulation 42 surrounding the body of the rivet,extending between the inner head or the rivet and the shell and betweenthe part 39e and the shell.

The shell 38, as increased in thickness at the connection. of thesprings therewith, is

spaced from the tubular base member 30a sufiiciently to provide thedesired freedom and, asshown, the springs 39 are also free of contactwith any part of the device except where connected to the base and tothe shell respectively, so that their springy and shock-absorbingfunctions will be developed under all normal conditions.

I have provided a collar 44 frictionally held upon the shell 38 having arecessed part 45 encompassing the upper end of the cylindrical basemember 30a in spaced relation, which collar serves to limit lateralmovements of the shell 38 such as may be occasioned by contact with thehands while working about the instrument or when a tube is being appliedor removed. The collar has the further function of limiting the downwardmovement of the shell when pressure is applied on the axis of the tubetoward the base, as in inserting a tube. In this device I have not Shownany special provision for limiting twisting movements of the shell toprevent distortion of the springs, as l contemplate that in the use ofthis device the operator will place one handupon the collar 44 and holdit against turning while the tube is being inserted yand removed, and,furthermore, where such devices are used with ordinary care, no specialmeans are required to safeguard the springs against such turningoperations.

1 have thus shown two embodiments of my invention in forms respectivelywell adapted to prevent vibration from injuring or intertering with theoperation of the tube, which forms are simple in construction' andeasily vto be used by the ordinary person.

This application is a continuation of the copending joint application ofthe undersigned John Juergens and one Reuben B. Benjamin, Serial No.663,031 filed September 17,1923, as to all of the claims herein.

I contemplate as being included in this invention such changes,variations anddepartures from what is herein specically illustratedandldescribed as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim: f 1. A shock absorbing socket construction for thermionicrepeaters, comprising a wiring base, a receptacle member for receiving arepeater, and means for supplying current from said wiring base to saidrepeater' and for yieldingly supporting saidl receptacle member on saidWiring base comprising, a plurality of sheet metal members, each sheetmetal member having an intermediate portion secured adjacent theperiphery of said receptacle member and an inwardly extending portionforming a -contact for engaging an electrode of the repeater and acantilever spring portion extending from said interme- 'giate portionand secured to said wiring ase.

2. A socket forl the reception of'an electrical device comprising abase, a shell member for the reception of said device, and shockabsorbing means comprising a plurality of :dat spring members forsupportin and attaching said shell member to said ase, said springmembers being integrally extended for contacting with and conductingcurrent to the device received in said shell member.

3. In a device of the type described, a hollow substantially cylindricalopen ended shell for the reception of an electrica-l device, a pluralityof flat spring contacts extending transversely of said shellI at oneendthereof, and-integrally formed extensions to said contacts comprisingelectrical connecting and sglclk absorbing supporting means for said s4. An electrical socket comprising a base, a shell member for the-receptionof-an electrical device, and spring shock absorbing meanscomprising a plurality of fiat angularly extending spring members oneside of the angle supporting and attaching said shell Ymember to saidbase and the other side of the angle contacting with and conductingcurrent to the device received in said shell member. s

5. AnJ electrical socket comprising a base, a plurality of wiringterminals at the periphery thereof, a receptacle member positionedbetween said terminals for the reception of an electrical device, and aplurality of lat .spring contact members for cooperation with memberseach having one end secured to the wiring base and the other endintegrally extended for direct contact engagement with the bulb.

7 An electron tube socket comprising in combination, a shell, and aplurality of resilient contact members carried by said shell, each ofsaid resilient contact members eX- tending from points of supportexterior of said shell and radially to points Within said shell, each ofsaid resilient contact members being arranged to be placed under tensionupon insertion of an electron tube in said socket for resilientlysuspending said electron tube socket.

8. A mounting for an electron tube socket and resiliently supporting thesaid socket in said aperture, said cont-act members constituting both ayielding support for said socket and electrical connections for theprongs of an associated electron tube.

14. In combination, a tube socket, a base for said socket, a pluralityof springs, each of said springs having one end secured to said base andthe other end to said socket, Whereby said socket is yieldinglysupported to move in any direction, and a spring contact arm carried byeach of said springs arranged to engage a contact pin of a tube placedin said socket.

comprising in combination a shellpa Yplural-.fflf'ln combination, a tubesocket, a base ity of contacts carried by the lo/wer portion of saidshell, said contacts extending from points of support exterior of saidshell to points radially Within said shell, each of said contactscomprising flexible and bent metallic strips and having means wherebysaid strips may be placed under tension upon insertion of an electrontube in said electron tube socket for resiliently supporting saidelectron tube socket.

9. The combination of an electron tube socket structure, a plurality ofresilient metal contact members secured intermediate their length tosaid socket structure and extending radially from a point Without saidsocket structure to points within said socket struc- V ture forestablishing connection with the pin terminals of an electron tube, thelength of said contact members outside of said socket structure beinggreater than the length of said Contact members inside of said socketstructure.

1D. In an electron tube socket construction, the combination with meansfor supporting an electron tube socket, and a plurality of opposedflexible metallic conduotors secured to sides of said means andproviding Contact surfaces for thepins of an electron tube, saidconductors being bent. and serving as resilient supports for saidelectron tube socket.

11. A universal tube socket of the class de scribedcomprising a tubeholding member, and a base member secured together by resilient means toform a cushion for the tube, said resilient means comprising combinationterminals and contacts, each having one end secured to the base memberto forma terminal and the other end secured to the tube holdingmeans toform a contact with the prong of the tube. y. y

12. A resilient support for an electron tube comprising in combination'an electron tube socket, an apertured base member, and a plurality ofcontact members secured to the base and resiliently supporting the saidsocket in said aperture.

13. A resilient su port oran electron tube comprising in com. ination anelectron tube socket, an apertured base member, and a lurahty `ofcontact members secured to the ase for said socket, a plurality ofsprings, each of said springs having one end secured to said base andthe other end to said socket whereby said socket is supported from saidbase and free to move in various directions, and a spring contact armintegral with each of said springs arranged to engage a contact pin of atube placed in said socket.

16. In a vacuum tube receptacle, a socket, a base, and a springsupporting means on said base for said socket, said spring means formingresilient contact clips for engaging the prongs of a vacuum tube.

17. In an audion lamp receptacle, a base having a central openingtherein, a socket in said opening, and resilient supports formaintaining said socket in said opening.

